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Model (and actual) Trains near Lafayette, IN?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Chicago, IL
  • 306 posts
Posted by Eilif on Friday, March 6, 2020 8:48 AM

mbinsewi

I want those GONS!!!  Crying

Mike.

 

I understand that sentiment completely.

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

  • Member since
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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 6, 2020 6:49 AM

I want those GONS!!!  Crying

Mike.

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  • From: Pacific Northwest
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Posted by SPSOT fan on Thursday, March 5, 2020 10:49 PM

Eilif

I am however, looking forward to a trip a bit later this spring to Grand Rapids, MI that will bring be past "Hobby Recyclying" which is a fantastic used train shop.

I love that Train Shop! I spent over an hour there last summer digging through their stuff! About half my trains came from there, infact I'm not sure I'd be in the hobby if not for Hobby Recycling cause I bought my first loop of track there for a fabulously low $5!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

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  • From: Chicago, IL
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Posted by Eilif on Thursday, March 5, 2020 4:37 PM

BigDaddy

 

 
Eilif
This was my haul last year. https://tycodepot.com/post/93733/thread
 

Yeah,
   That was the cream of the crop from that trip. EJ&E is my favorite road and compared to average Ebay pricing, that was a 3-for-1!  I don't run alot of freight over 50' but I make an exception for EJ&E mill Gondolas.

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 6:49 PM

Eilif
This was my haul last year. https://tycodepot.com/post/93733/thread

cutting to the chase

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
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  • From: Chicago, IL
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Posted by Eilif on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 6:44 PM

mbinsewi

 

 
Eilif
"Hobby Recyclying" which is a fantastic used train shop.

 

Now THAT sounds like my kind of place Yes

Mike.

 

If you have the chance to visit, it's a fairly small store, but well organized and absolutely packed with used HO.  

This was my haul last year.

https://tycodepot.com/post/93733/thread

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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Posted by Doughless on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 6:39 PM

Eilif

Train Exchange looks neat, but unfortunately we won't be traveling west of Lafayette.  

 

 

Kokomo is actually SE of Lafayette, but probably too far anyway.

- Douglas

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Posted by tin can on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 5:22 PM

As some of you know, my son played football at Purdue, and over the 5 years he was there I spent many enjoyable hours (and dollars) at Hawkins.  I was somewhat lucky in that the Saturday I moved him out of Indiana was the last Saturday that Hawkins Rail was in operation, and I got to say goodbye to Mr. Jack.

There is a large group of model railroaders in West Lafayette / Lafayette, and Mr. Jack was going to get me to an operating session, but I never was able to do so.  

I didn't do much railfanning there, but on Friday nights, the local that works what used to be Alcoa (now Arconic on Google Maps) used to run.  An old wide vision caboose is used as a shoving platform; it also works the Catapillar plant on occasion, as I have seen a flatcar with new Cat engines on them in the NS yard on Saturday morning.  It was kind of neat to see that caboose creeping down the track, lit up like something that belonged on the front of a train.

 

Remember the tin can; the MKT's central Texas branch...
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Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 3:35 PM

Eilif
"Hobby Recyclying" which is a fantastic used train shop.

Now THAT sounds like my kind of place Yes

Mike.

  • Member since
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  • From: Chicago, IL
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Posted by Eilif on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 3:32 PM

Thanks guys.  Sad to hear it, but at least I know I won't be missing anything.  A good reminder to be thankful for the shops we have here in Chicago. I'll have to content my self with a bit of resaling and maybe some antiquing. 

Train Exchange looks neat, but unfortunately we won't be traveling west of Lafayette.  

I am however, looking forward to a trip a bit later this spring to Grand Rapids, MI that will bring be past "Hobby Recyclying" which is a fantastic used train shop.

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
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Posted by Doughless on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 1:24 PM

SeeYou190

Since Hawkins Rail Service (one of the best hobby shops I have ever been to) closed, I know of no reason to go to Lafayette.

One of my lifelong friends I have known since Middle School is a professor at Purdue. If not for that, I would never go back.

Sorry.

-Kevin

 

That place was legendary, and so was Jack Hawkins.  

There are no hobby shops left in the Lafayette area.

I believe The Train Exchange in Kokomo is OPs best bet, about an hour east of Lafayette.  Search for the wesbsite because their hours of operation can be a bit uncommon.

- Douglas

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 12:41 PM

Since Hawkins Rail Service (one of the best hobby shops I have ever been to) closed, I know of no reason to go to Lafayette.

One of my lifelong friends I have known since Middle School is a professor at Purdue. If not for that, I would never go back.

Sorry.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Chicago, IL
  • 306 posts
Model (and actual) Trains near Lafayette, IN?
Posted by Eilif on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 12:21 PM

Going to be in Lafayette and Attica Indiana this weekend. Google maps says only that there's a club at Purdue, but I don't think we'll be around during their open hours and we won't be anywhere near Indianapolis.

Are there any other clubs, shops, antique dealers, etc in the area that have model trains?

For that matter are there any particularly good places to watch trains? I notice a couple yards on the south side of Lafayette that I might try and drive around. 

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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